Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative Dietitian to work as part of a team delivering a specialist paediatric dietetic service to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. You will be working closely with the Band 7 paediatric lead and the wider MDT providing a specialist service to babies, children and their carers/families.

There will also be an opportunity to provide a dietetic service to an agreed area of adult inpatients as needed.

Specialist clinical skills, a highly professional attitude along with excellent communication skills, organizational skills and a caring and compassionate nature are essential for this post.

You would be part of a team of 13 registered Dietitians, 5 Dietetic Assistants and 3 secretarial support staff.  The Department is based in the Acute Trust, providing the Dietetic service to this Trust and a clinical outreach service to West Norfolk and the adjacent part of Cambridgeshire.

Whilst Paediatric experience is desirable, some training can be given on the job, with the option of a band 5 to band 6 fast-track progression upon completion of relevant competencies. 

Main duties of the job

As a member of the dietetic team you will be working with the paediatric multidisciplinary team to provide a specialist dietetic service to babies, children and their carers/families. This will involve both inpatients and outpatients across a range of clinical conditions.

To provide a dietetic service to an agreed area of adult dietetics as needed

To provide clinical supervision and guidance to junior members of staff, dietetic assistants and student dietitians.

To take an active part in audit, development and writing of clinical policies in own areas of work as well as education and training of all levels of health care professional and medical staff.

To be an expert adviser in paediatric nutritional and dietetic care to health care professionals, patient carers and voluntary groups within and external agencies.

Working for our organisation

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) King’s Lynn is located near some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK, along the north Norfolk coast, and not far from Sandringham House.

We provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based healthcare services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, in addition to parts of Breckland, Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire.

We have more than 4,000 staff and volunteers, approximately 530 beds, and a helipad for air ambulances. We work with neighbouring hospitals for the provision of tertiary services, including as part of regional partnership and network models of care, such as the trauma network.

In February 2022 the significant progress that has been made at QEH was recognised by the Care Quality Commission who rated the Trust as ‘Good’ in all of the core services they inspected. They recommended the Trust moves out of the recovery support system (formerly special measures).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information about this exciting opportunity.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or similar non-UK qualification.
• Dietitian registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable criteria

• British Dietetic Association (BDA) membership.
• Membership of relevant BDA Specialist Interest Group/Paediatric Group.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate a variety of general dietetics experience in the NHS
• Experience of managing own caseload, management of complex cases, support others in effectively managing their caseload
• Experience of supervising and facilitating a supportive role with students on clinical placements, supervision of staff members
• Experience of developing and delivering training
• Able to give examples of quality initiatives to improve the delivery of patient care and own involvement in specific initiatives

Desirable criteria

• Paediatric experience

Skills/Ability

Essential criteria

• Ability to use behaviour change/ motivational interviewing/advanced communication skills to support implementation of dietetic treatment plans
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to work autonomously but also demonstrate a good understanding of team work
• Demonstrate confidence/leadership and self-motivation
• Uses analytical and problem solving skills to apply to own practice
• Demonstrate excellent organisational/supervisory skills
• Ability to prioritise workload and is flexible in approach

Desirable criteria

• Completion of Behaviour Change Course for Dietitians
• Has evidence of being involved in use of change management skills

Knowledge/Understanding

Essential criteria

• Demonstrate evidence of continued professional development
• Able to give examples of own involvement in working as part of a team
• Excellent knowledge of national strategies, guidelines and current evidence base related to nutritional needs of infants and children

Applications are welcome from anyone who meets the criteria specified in the person specification regardless of age, gender, disability, race ,ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. Only those applicants who demonstrate in the application form how they meet the criteria in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who possess and can demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our core values.